Chika
Joined Rakuten Group in November 2024, mid-career
Department: Tech Management Office
Commerce & Marketing Company
Position: Recruitment Strategist
Place of birth: Kanagawa, Japan
Hobby: Tea ceremonies
Chika has worked in recruitment for the past 10 years. She joined Rakuten Group in 2024 and currently works in the Tech Management Office (TMO), where she oversees mid-career recruitment strategies for engineers.
In this interview, we discuss the recruitment strategy operations and work environment of the Tech Management Office.
INDEX
✔Joining Rakuten Group: To Engage in Internal Recruitment Operations
✔Empowering Initiative: A Workplace for Positive Action-Takers
Joining Rakuten Group: To Engage in Internal Recruitment Operations
――Please introduce yourself.
Hi, my name is Chika. I currently work on mid-career recruitment strategies for engineers in the Tech Management Office (TMO).
After starting my career in sales planning at my previous company, I was assigned to headhunting and have been involved in human resources ever since. For the past 10 years, I had worked at a recruiting firm as a consultant specializing in the foreign manufacturing industry. There, I provided comprehensive recruitment services, supporting both companies and candidates. My responsibilities included new client development and sales to existing clients, as well as candidate sourcing, matching, and interview preparation.
While pursuing my targets, I’ve kept a good work-life balance by enjoying my weekends doing tea ceremonies, something I’ve been doing since I was a kid.
――So, after working as a recruitment consultant for many years, you joined Rakuten Group in November 2024.
What led to you changing jobs?
At the time, I wasn’t immediately thinking about changing jobs, but I was reflecting on my future career. I wanted to be involved in recruitment for the company I was working at, and I also wanted to try something new.
Then, I was approached by Rakuten Group through the business-focused social media platform LinkedIn about a position in recruitment strategy. I was especially interested because the role allowed me to leverage my past experience while offering a unique opportunity not commonly found at other companies.
I was also very impressed with the Rakuten Group recruiter who approached me and was always very attentive and approachable, which was also a deciding factor in my decision to change jobs.
――Please tell us about your current department and the work you are doing.
I currently work in the Tech HR Section of the TMO. I am in charge of mid-career recruiting for engineers working in Rakuten Group’s internet service segment. Unlike my previous position, I don’t directly contact candidates or conduct meetings or interviews, but I am involved in developing mid-career recruiting strategies.
Empowering Initiative: A Workplace for Positive Action-Takers
――Please tell us about your mission.
It’s becoming increasingly harder to hire mid-career bilingual engineers every year, so we need strategies to hire more successfully and efficiently. Our mission is to develop these strategies. I am specifically responsible for enhancing our outreach through recruitment agencies and expanding our referral program, leveraging the network of Rakuten Group employees.
――What exactly are the recruitment strategies?
In my department, we first gather information on each department’s business direction and its current hiring needs. We then select the appropriate recruitment source for each, identify issues revealed by data, and implement measures to address the issues.
For example, we conduct agency sessions with recruiting firms in order to accurately inform candidates about the department and its operations. We have also created a dashboard based on past data we have accumulated that provides up-to-date information on recruitment that can be understood at a glance. We can track the performance of not only each department but also each recruiting firm, providing a solid foundation for our strategies.
――So, you are drawing on your previous experience in recruitment to support the hiring process. Could you tell us what you find most challenging about your current role?
We work closely with recruiters and department managers, but since we aren’t directly involved in hiring ourselves, it’s essential that our approach actually works in practice, not just on paper. We review each case to ensure our strategy aligns with both the organization’s policies and the realities in each department.
――So the challenge actually comes from not doing the recruiting yourself, unlike your previous job.
How exactly do you proceed with your tasks?
I work with managers to develop recruitment strategies. Rather than simply carrying out predetermined plans, the managers will often ask me questions like, “This is what I think, but what do you think?” We work on ideas and move through the process together.
――What do you find most rewarding about your job?
I like that I can be involved in recruitment for the entire Development Division of the Commerce & Marketing Company. I find it interesting to explore optimal methods and processes through discussions with people from various departments and positions, and to drive initiatives collaboratively with diverse people. In my day-to-day work, I learn a lot by gaining different perspectives and viewpoints, which gives me a first-hand experience of Rakuten’s motto of “Get Things Done.”
My team members also come from a variety of backgrounds. They all have different strengths and perspectives, so each meeting is a learning experience.
Another great thing about Rakuten Group is that it offers many opportunities to keep learning. There are training programs aimed at career development and skill enhancement, and we can choose the ones we need. I’m currently taking a course to sharpen my thinking skills.
――Finally, please give a message to those who are considering joining Rakuten Group.
I think Rakuten Group is a great fit for people who enjoy finding ways to get things done, rather than focusing on reasons why they can’t be accomplished.
Many employees, including myself, are also parents. The flexible work environment, including flextime, staggered hours, and an office childcare center, empowers us to balance work and our personal lives.
I also enjoy that I get to work with people of different backgrounds, ages, and nationalities. We welcome applications from those with a positive, can-do attitude. I look forward to working with all of you!
Come work with us!
The Tech Management Office (TMO) of the Commerce & Marketing Company is seeking talented individuals to join our team in developing new services, managing daily operations, and driving continuous improvements. Recruitment is open for a variety of positions, including engineers and product managers. We look forward to receiving your application!
